Sunny Joy - CHAPTER 7

Another year has passed, and it’s time for the most exciting moment for college students: final exams.

All day long, it’s just memorizing, memorizing, memorizing.

Many times, Song Ciyue didn’t quite understand why, as a science student, she ended up doing things that only liberal arts students were supposed to do.

Back when the arts and sciences were divided, she chose science just to escape the endless memorization of books.

As the days went by, someone started speaking in the group:

A few days ago, I had a heart-to-heart talk with my teacher. My teacher told me that 1.001 raised to the power of 365 is approximately 1.44. I thought the next sentence would be something like 0.99 raised to the power of 365 is approximately 0.02, leading into some ancient motivational quote about persistence, and I was wondering how such illogical reasoning could come from my teacher.

But then my teacher continued:

“1.2 squared is also 1.44, which means working hard for a whole year is not as effective as cramming for two days.”

Genius! Absolute truth! I was instantly convinced by this brilliant argument!

Although this is something that a classmate copied and pasted, which serves the same purpose as a flyer, it truly reflects the reality of university life: a semester of easy courses, cramming for two weeks.

Some people also said: The schedule for after tomorrow’s exam is already set, so let’s go to the rooftop now, feel the winter wind, and see if this winter is as cold as my heart.

Hello, Sister Bingxin. I hope to see you in the exam room tomorrow.

After finishing the exam, everyone’s spirits improved a lot, and they were in the mood to go sightseeing.

The view from the rooftop is exceptionally beautiful today. Sister Bingxin, have you arrived?

I think I can still save it. Since the scenery is so beautiful, I won’t disturb you. You can enjoy it by yourself.

The ice was quite thick, which led to many people developing a love for ice skating.

Among them, the one who went to the rooftop to admire the scenery was the most daring. He even posted a video in the group chat, showing himself first testing the ice cautiously with his foot and then confidently walking across the frozen surface.

If it weren’t for the fact that just a few days ago, a student from the neighboring class in the same major had fallen into the lake—causing their class monitor to get a severe scolding—perhaps he was simply sharing his joy.

Now, the class monitor couldn’t sit still anymore: “Ancestor, please come back immediately!”

Scenery Guy: “It’s fine. I’m wearing a down jacket. If I fall in, there’s no way they’d be able to fish me out.”

Spectator A (who loves chaos): “I’ll find someone to take his place and continue living for him.”

Class Monitor: “No, no, no! If you fall in, I’ll be the one locked up!”

Kind-hearted B: “Crispy Shark, what are you doing?!”

Spectator C (also enjoying the drama): “He’s trying to ascend to heaven and meet the God of Wealth.”

Spectator D: “Quick, go buy an insurance policy! List the class monitor as the beneficiary!”

Scenery Guy: “I just wanted to go home, so I thought I’d fly back for a visit.”

Kind-hearted B: “If you’re wearing a down jacket, don’t move around too much—you’ll float.”

Scenery Guy: “Got it, I won’t move around.”

Spectator C: “I suggest immediately organizing a group meal to celebrate!”

Class Monitor: “Brother, have you come back up yet?”

Scenery Guy: “I’ve already swum to the other side of the river.”

Class Monitor: “Please don’t do this again in the future. Thank you, everyone.”

Enthusiastic A: “Tomorrow, I’m going ice skating!”

Enthusiastic B: “‘Please do as I do.’”

Spectator C: “All I can say is, with how strong this lake is, if you don’t skate now, you won’t get another chance.”

Class Monitor: (smiling)

Meanwhile, Song Ciyue, who had been silently watching the group chat, was laughing uncontrollably.

After winter break, school resumed.

Just as spring was about to arrive, so was a new season in Song Ciyue’s life.

At some point, she inexplicably got paired up with Meng Ran for a project. From then on, they started chatting often, hanging out together, and discussing all sorts of things.

Then, one day, out of the blue, Meng Ran confessed that he liked her and started pursuing her.

Song Ciyue never mentioned this to Chu Xi, so Chu Xi had no idea that, in just a short while, her dear “cabbage” had been stolen by some unknown “pig.”

Chu Xi was a person with… rather few hobbies.

She rarely stuck with any game for long, so the only one she still played was just that one.

For various reasons, she had taken a break from the game for a while. When she logged back in one day, she played a few rounds with a stranger and found that they got along surprisingly well. From then on, she frequently played with this new gaming buddy.

While Song Ciyue and Meng Ran were getting closer, Chu Xi was getting more and more hooked on playing with her new partner.

Even though she didn’t think about them outside of the game, when the time came to play, she never hesitated.

Ever since she met this new companion, her enthusiasm for gaming reignited a little. Spending more time playing, she felt like she was changing in some way.

Some people say that loving someone makes you feel free but being addicted to someone makes you feel trapped.

Chu Xi realized that this wasn’t a good thing. She also knew that the other person was just an online friend, but somehow, the distance created by the internet made everything feel better than it normally would.

She had started focusing too much on this one person and wondered if she should slowly start distancing herself.

Chu Xi was someone who feared losing control, and when it came to emotions, things could easily spiral out of control.

She later read some books that said dependence often looks very similar to love—it’s about wanting to be with someone or do something to the point of obsession.

So, she started introducing Song Ciyue to her gaming buddy and tried to meet other players, widening her social circle instead of fixating on just one person.

By spreading out her emotional investment and enthusiasm, she ensured that she wouldn’t become a burden to herself or the other person.

Dependence not only strips away one’s own freedom but also, unconsciously, restricts the other person’s freedom. And for Chu Xi, freedom was crucial.

One book stated:

“Freedom is about minimizing the external factors that interfere with and restrict you.”

In this world, such moments were rare and, therefore, precious.

Everyone is constantly influenced by external factors—family, friends, teachers… The opportunities to truly give oneself space are already scarce.

Perhaps, being able to sit alone and listen to the wind and rain, watching the clouds drift by, could bring more clarity than relying on someone else ever could.

That must be a kind of peace of mind.

Later, her gaming buddy failed the CET-4 English exam.

Whether it was something Chu Xi said or just their pursuit of perfection, her gaming buddy suddenly asked her to tutor them in English.

To be honest, their English was terrible—practically nonexistent!

One day, they sent her a reading comprehension passage. Chu Xi looked, then another look.

Chu Xi: “Wait… Is this really a CET-4 question? Isn’t it way too easy?”

Gaming Buddy: “I suspect you’re mocking me.”

Chu Xi: “Uh… dear, my bad.”